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The Tenshikan was first built in [[1396]]; the first investiture mission arrived in [[1404]].<ref>''Ryûkyû shisetsu, Edo he iku!'' 琉球使節、江戸へ行く！, Okinawa Prefectural Museum (2009), 47.</ref> The envoys typically stayed for four to eight months.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41495-storytopic-121.html Sappôshi]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). 1 March 2003. Accessed 7 November 2009.</ref> Various matters related to the envoys' stay at the Tenshikan were overseen by a Ryukyuan official called the ''kanmushi'' (館務司).<ref>Gallery labels, "Kuninda - Ryûkyû to Chûgoku no kakehashi," special exhibit, Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Sept 2014. </ref>

The Tenshikan was first built in [[1396]]; the first investiture mission arrived in [[1404]].<ref>''Ryûkyû shisetsu, Edo he iku!'' 琉球使節、江戸へ行く！, Okinawa Prefectural Museum (2009), 47.</ref> The envoys typically stayed for four to eight months.<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41495-storytopic-121.html Sappôshi]." ''Okinawa konpakuto jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). 1 March 2003. Accessed 7 November 2009.</ref> Various matters related to the envoys' stay at the Tenshikan were overseen by a Ryukyuan official called the ''kanmushi'' (館務司).<ref>Gallery labels, "Kuninda - Ryûkyû to Chûgoku no kakehashi," special exhibit, Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Sept 2014. </ref>

The compound was built largely in a Chinese style, and included a main hall (J: ''seidô''), Great Gate (J: ''Ômon''), Second Gate (J: ''nimon''), and two side towers.<ref>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Megumi, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 249.</ref>

The complex was built largely in the style of a Chinese administrative compound, and was oriented to face south. It was surrounded by fencing, and had one main gate on the south side, flanked by two yellow Chinese-style banners on flagpoles. The compound was divided into three sections, with a cobblestone path leading straight through the center of the compound, from the main southern gate, through two further gates to the main halls. Two drum towers stood to either side, along with two administrative buildings. A plaque reading 「天澤門」 (C: ''Tiān zé mén'', J: ''Tentakumon'', "Heavenly Marsh Gate") hung above the second of the middle gates. Beyond this gate was a large plaza or garden where ceremonies could be performed, and behind that, the Main Hall. Two buildings near the rear of the compound served as the lodgings for the lead envoys of the investiture missions. Calligraphy plaques by investiture envoys and others were hung here as well. The ''[[Zhongshan jilue|Zhōngshān jì lüè]]'' (J: ''Chûzan kiryaku''), written in [[1663]], relates that parts of the Tenshikan were in rather poor condition at that time, but that the compound contained numerous buildings, and that the furnishings, dishes, and so forth were in a Chinese style. Further, a number of wooden plaques were displayed in an upstairs area, all inscribed with calligraphy/poetry by notable Ming Dynasty figures.

 

One interpreter and twenty other officials were stationed at the Tenshikan to assist the envoys. Water from the natural springs at [[Shuri castle]] was couriered to the Tenshikan each morning for the envoys' use, along with rice, noodles, poultry, fish, pork and goat, and other foodstuffs. In addition to this, lavish banquets were held for the Chinese visitors seven times during their multi-month stay; for the last of these seven banquets, the king of Ryûkyû came to the Tenshikan and attended in person.

When Chinese envoys were not in residence, sections of the Tenshikan were used by the ''satôza'' ([[sugar]] guild) for storage of sugar, construction and storage of casks for transporting the sugar, and organization of the shipment of sugar to [[Satsuma han]].

When Chinese envoys were not in residence, sections of the Tenshikan were used by the ''satôza'' ([[sugar]] guild) for storage of sugar, construction and storage of casks for transporting the sugar, and organization of the shipment of sugar to [[Satsuma han]].

==References==

==References==

*Plaques on-site.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/21257376353/sizes/k/]

*Plaques on-site.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/21257376353/sizes/k/]

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